Colangelo Carpenter Innovation Center Launch

Embedded in the very marrow of Leadership Foundations (LF), is the adage that we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. This idea emanates from Jesus who, in his first public debut, acknowledged his sense of indebtedness to his cousin, John the Baptist (Matthew 3). In this context, and with LF’s 40th anniversary afoot in 2018, the LF Board asked itself: how can we honor those whose shoulders we stand on and ensure that this veneration has a real-time benefit for the LF global network?

In response to this question, LF created the Colangelo Carpenter Innovation Center (CCIC), named after Jerry Colangelo, LF’s first board chair, and Reid Carpenter, LF’s founder. Launched this month, the CCIC is based in Washington D.C. and will generate and scale innovative practices, programs, and polices in support of the LF network and cities around the world. It also allows us to say a hearty amen to two leaders on whose shoulders we stand.

Dag Hammarskjöld—the Swedish diplomat, second United Nations Secretary-General, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient articulated something that captures the very essence of this moment in LF’s history. “For all that has been, thank you. For all that is to come, yes!” Through the CCIC we say “thank you” to Jerry and Reid and “yes” to the glorious future of seeing cities and communities become playgrounds.